Public Forum: Timmons blasts Times-Gazette

Ted Daniels Published: October 21, 2006 12:00 AM

As a member of the Ashland City Schools Board of Education, I appreciate the T-Gs editorial on Oct. 18 endorsing our school districts renewal levy on the Nov. 7 ballot. This renewal levy will cost taxpayers no more than they are currently paying. No new taxes! Indeed, the district should not need new money for a number of years provided state funding remains stable and budgeting is restrained. This was a very positive editorial but the T-G still could not resist a jab at board members current controversies swirling around the Board of Education. I am constantly asked, Why does the T-G keep blasting the Board of Education? Why cant they move on? People ask why a respectable local newspaper has turned to sensationalizing and creating news (Reference: T-G of July 22; Aug. 26 implying the mayor was mediating a board rift) instead of simply reporting facts.I have observed insinuations and wild speculation increasingly being used to malign board members, individually and collectively (Reference: the latest editorials of Aug. 22; Sept. 7 and 23). Personal attacks and opinions presented as factual have been allowed (Reference: letter to the editor and cartoon of Sept. 7) For months questions askd by board members and their actions/reactions have served as reasons to attack. The same speculative/unsubstantiated things (e.g. possible violations of the Sunshine Law or the spirit of the law) have been reported over and over like the Energizer Bunny, apparently in an effort to create an aura of mystery, doubt, or dysfunction. I have seen the T-G give great latitude to other local public entities, including past boards of education, so why conduct an apparent smear campaign/vendetta against this board, especially when an important levy renewal is coming up? Why would a local newspaper be allowed to put our entire communitys future at risk through what I consider to be irresponsible reporting and speculation? Having watched 30 years of politics in Ashland, I believe if the powers-that-be wanted this stopped, it would stop. So why is this continuing even as the T-G presents an editorial endorsing the upcoming levy renewal? I believe there are two reasons: 1) The boards silence has allowed it to happen as we tried to remain professional and above the fray, and 2) We havent given in to their pressure.Last falls election completed the peoples replacement of the entire board of education in two years time. People tell me they wanted a board of education that would represent them, not cater to the whims of a superintendent or hierarchy of power. They wanted their school administration held accountable. And those have been scary things to some because it is not necessarily how things have worked in the past. Yet, through all the T-Gs barbs, insinuations, and downright ugliness, this board has been sticking to its guns and doing exactly what it was elected to do. My fellow board members and I have been very patient with the T-G but the barbs continue and my patience has run out. Editor Ted Daniels tells me my response to months of articles and editorials is limited to one 600-word letter to the editor every 30 days. So much for equal response. Nevertheless, in future letters I will address topics such as alleged Sunshine Law violations, sensationalized e-mails, legal fees, implied rifts between board members, proper board/superintendent relationship, etc. So, as you go to the polls, dont base your vote on what you have been reading for the last several months. That was only the T-Gs viewpoint. In time, youll hear the other side.Sue TimmonsmemberAshland City Schools Board of Education